Prostate cancer affects thousands of middle-aged and older men and it is a very serious disease. Almost 60% of the cases occur in men who are older than 65 years. Found in the man’s lower abdomen is a small gland which is known as the prostate gland; it is located under the bladder. The prostate produces seminal fluid also referred to as semen and is regulated by the hormone testosterone. Sperm is found in the semen and it exists in the urethra during ejaculation. Prostate cancer is when you find an abnormal, malignant growth, known as a tumor in the prostate gland. Cancer that is formed in the prostate gland does not stay there alone but can also spread to other areas of the body. It is still referred to as prostate cancer as the cancer is made up of cells from the prostate gland. Statistics show that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men.
There is actually no known cause for prostate cancer and like all other cancers, it may be caused by many different things like a family history or even due to exposure to certain chemicals. Irrespective of the cause, it leads to cell mutation and uncontrolled cell growth in the prostate gland.
Although prostate cancer can occur in any man, there are certain factors that raise your risk for the disease. Some of the risk factors for prostate cancer may include older age, a family history of prostate cancer, obesity, genetic changes, and certain ethnicities or race. The area that you live in can also play an important role in your prostate cancer risk. In some cases of non-aggressive prostate cancer, you may not have any symptoms. But advanced prostate cancer is often accompanied by certain symptoms. You will, however, need to be examined by a doctor as some symptoms of prostate cancer can also be caused by other conditions. This will help you get the right diagnosis and treatment. Urinary problems, sexual problems, pain, and numbness are some of the symptoms of prostate cancer.
According to your age, health status and the stage of your cancer, your doctor will develop an appropriate treatment plan in order to treat your cancer. In case the cancer is non-aggressive, then your doctor may recommend something called active surveillance which is nothing but watchful waiting. It simply means that you need to have regular checkups with your doctor. Much more aggressive cases of prostate cancer can be treated with options such as surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. There is a good chance that if your cancer is very aggressive it could have metastasized and spread to your bones. The above-stated treatments may be followed for bone metastases as well. The outlook is usually good if the cancer is detected early and has not spread from the original tumor.
